Journal lubricator



Feb. 9, 1954 Filed Jan. 23, 1952 H. T. RQCKWELL JOURNAL LUBRICATOR 2.....Q-uifi-m4,

4 Shegts-Sheet 1 m N INVENTOR 1 Harley 'RRuckWEll,

ATTORNEY Feb. 9, 1954 Filed Jan. 23, 1952 H. 'T. ROCKWELL JOURNAL LUBRICATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 27-7 \{7 I I 4 If IN VENTOR 1 I'Iar'lEy 'TZRuckwell,

ATTORNEY Feb. 9, 1954 H. "r. ROCKWELL 2,668,741

JOURNAL LUBRICATOR A Filed Jan. 23, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Harley T-R: :1 WE11 ATTORNEY 2001 kZGa 22 25a 26a Patented Feb. 9, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOURNAL LUBRICATOR Harley T. Rockwell, Yonkers, N. Y.

Application January 23, 1952, Serial No. 267,771

14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to journal box lubricators adapted particularly for use in railroad operation for lubricating the journals of the axles of railway passenger cars, freight cars and trucks, or other railway stock, as well as in the bearings of other vehicles or machinery. The invention relates particularly to the type of journal lubricators in which an endless flexible conveyor of belt form, partially immersed in lubricant in a reservoir at the bottom of the journal box, travels about a supporting pulley or roller and in contact with and is resiliently held against the journal for distribution of the lubricant on the journal when the axle rotates.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a lubricator embodying novel means for resiliently supporting the flexible conveyor within the box and holding it in contact with the surface of the journal at all times, and which will accommodate itself to all play of the journal or relative movements between the journal and journal box.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lubricator of unitary construction which may be readily applied as such to a journal box and removed therefrom when required, and which dispenses with the use of any special fixtures or mounting means in the box for its reception.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a flexible expansible and contractible supporting frame or mounting for the roller and conveyor belt and associated resilient means whereby the lubricator may be adjusted for application to or removal from the box, and whereby the lubricator when applied for use will be held in proper working position by the resilient means, which will also serve to yieldingly hold the conveyor belt in contact with the journal.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lubricator of the character described which when in position for use will not interfere with the jacking up of the journal or box for the insertion and removal of journal bearing parts or like service operations.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in end elevation, looking toward the front of a journal box, showing a portion of the lid of the box and also showing one form of lubricator embodying the invention as arranged for use within the box.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, taken on line 22 of Fig. l, of the box and lubricator shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view, taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 1, looking down upon the lubricator, the journal being broken away to clearly show the construction and arrangement of the lubricator.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the roller and flexible belt and showing portions of the roller supporting arms and their mode of connection with the roller carrying shaft.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of the telescopic cross rod spring pressure device.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section thereof.

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section through a journal box showing the arrangement therein of a modified form of lubricator embodying the invention.

Fig. 8 is a view in front elevation of the journal box omitting the cover lid and showing in dotted lines a depressed or collapsed condition of the lubricator.

Figs. 9 and 10 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 3 of the journal box and lubricator structure shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of the modified form of lubricator shown in Figs. 7 to 10, inelusive.

Fig. 12 is a vertical transverse section through the journal box showing another modified form of lubricator embodying my invention.

Fig. 13 is a vertical longitudinal section through the journal box and lubricator shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional plan view through the journal box shown in Figs. 12 and 13, omitting the journal, and showing the arrangement of the lubricator in the box.

Referring now more particularly to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, i designates a journal box of suitable or conventional type for the reception of the axle journal 2 and having at its rear an opening 3 through which the journal extends thereinto and having at its front the usual access doorway or opening 4 adapted to be closed by a hinged cover or lid 5, a portion or" which is shown in Fig. 1. The opening 3 is of suitable form to receive the shouldered portion 6 at the intersection of the axle and l with the inner end of the journal, which is provided at its outer end with the usual bearing retaining collar or flange 9. At the top of the box are arranged the journal bearing 19 and wedge l l, which may be of any approved form and material, and at the bottom of the box is suitably formed an oil cellar or reservoir 12, from which the oil is supplied to the journal and its bearing. Means are provided at the rear of the box for sealing the opening 3 against escape of the oil or lubricant. As shown in Fig. 2, the rear wall of the box is formed to provide a recess l3 bounding the opening 3 and having a tap access passage [4, in which recess is fitted a sealing washer it which snugly encompasses the shoulder 5 to prevent leakage of oil from the box and entrance of dust, moisture or other foreign substances thereto. This washer is insertable and removable through the passage I4 which in service is closed by a plug I6 which may be made of felt sealed with asphalt base roof cement or other suitable sealing material. The box I shown is of the type integral with a car truck side frame, but may be one of that type which is movably mounted between pedestal jaws of a truck used in passenger car equipment and other high speed service, for which my improved lubricator is equally well adapted.

The lubricator embodying my invention comprises a lubricant conveyor and distributor per se and a flexible expansible and contractable supporting frame therefor constructed as a unit for application to and removal from the journal box. The lubricator per se is disposed for use in the journal box between the oil reservoir and bottom of the journal and consists of a longitudinally extending shaft ll carrying adjacent its ends anti-friction bearings it on which is rotatively mounted a peripherally grooved pulley or roller [9 about which is arranged to travel an endless flexible lubricant conveying belt or apron 29. This conveyor belt or apron is of greater diameter or circumferential length than the roller and is suspended therefrom so that its upper portion will be held by the roller in contact with the journal While its lower portion will travel through the body of oil in the reservoir and in contact with or close proximity to the bottom of the journal box to take up oil, up to the journal to keep the journal and its bearing lubricated as long as there is any oil in the reservoir. The belt may be made of a durable fabric, or of any other suitable non-metallic or metallic material, or of a composite structure, or oil resistant rubber, such as will ensure long life and proof against deterioration by the lubricant or by thermal or climatic conditions, and it may be provided with indentations or grooves 2d of various patterns to hold lubricant to be conveyed to the face of the journal. A particular feature of my inven tion is that the roller i9 is made of comparatively small diameter so that it, the apron and theassociated parts of the flexible carrier frame when said frame is contracted or collapsed may be inserted into the box and removed therefrom through the space between the flange 9 and bottom of the box and through the doorway in a ready and convenient manner, as hereinafter described. The use of such a roller in connection with its type of expansible and contractible frame also permits of the jacking up of the jourrial box for removal and insertion of the bearing elements without interference from the parts of the lubricator.

The flexible supporting frame structure comprises a pair of transverse supporting arms 2E, 22, located at each end of the shaft it" and e; tending therefrom toward the opposite ends of the journal box. The inner ends of these arms are connected with the shaft to turn therewith or thereon to form articulating or pivotal connections between the arms and the roller whereby the roller may move upward and downward with the journal and be kept pressed upward to always maintain the conveyor belt in contact with the journal. As shown, the inner end of each inner arm 25 is loosely mounted on the shaft, while the inner end of each outer arm, which laps over the inner arm, is fitted on the shaft and secured thereto by a pin Or other fastening 23, so that in an articulating action relative pivotal motion between the arms and roller will be produced to allow upward movement of the outer ends of the arms and a resultant downward movement of the inner ends of the arms, or vice versa, with a resultant downward or upward movement of the shaft and roller.

' The outer ends of the arms 2!, 22 are welded or otherwise rigidly connected, as by means of suitable fastenings 24, to longitudinally extending frame rods or bars 25 which extend along and in contact with the side walls of the journal box. These rods or bars are provided at their forward ends with upwardly extending lever or thrust arms 25 which lie at the front of the journal box between the forward end of the journal and the box mouth or doorway and are accessible through the latter. The lever arms 26 are pivotally coupled at their upper ends by a telescopic spring loaded pressure producing device or cross connection 21, the spring of which normally exerts a spreading force on such ends of the arms 2%? and therethrough a torsional upward pressure in a direct vertical plane .on the rods 25 and arms 2!, 22 to force the roller l9 and conveyor belt 2% against the surface of the journal while permitting the inner ends of the arms 21, 22, the roller is and the belt 29 to move upward and downward with the journal in the relative upward and downward movements between the journal and the journal box. This produces a positive frictional engagement between the journal and belt to cause the belt to travel and the roller to rotate with and in the same direction as the journal as long as the journal is rotating so that the journal will always be kept lubricated. The device 21, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, consists of a pair of tubular members 23, 29, pivotally connected at their outer ends to the respective lever arms 26, to the member 23 of which is fixed a plunger 35! which is slidably fitted in the member 29 and bears against one end of a coiled expansion spring 3. l, the other end of which spring bears against a fixed abutment 32 in the member 29. Under the pressure of this spring the lever arms 26 and rods 25 are rocked outwardly to force the arms 2i, 22 upwardly, as before described, to hold the roller and conveyor belt in contact with the journal,

while permitting the inner ends of the 21, 22 to yield downwardly and to play upwardly and downwardly with the journal in its vertical movements. Hence the lubricator will be kept in intimate contact with the journal to keep it lubricated at all times.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the construction provides a unitary flexible frame to support the lubricator roller and belt which is entirely free from connection with the box and will be held stably therein but is free to move universally with the journal to the degrees re quired without getting out of proper working position, and that the arrangement is such that the conveyor belt will take up and distribute lubricant to the journal as long as any lubricant is contained in the reservoir, thus ensuring effective lubrication of the journal during the prescribed service periods at which the reservoir requires replenishment. dition to its lubricating efiiciency, has the important advantage that it may be applied and removed as a unit to and from the journal box, in which operations it is slidably movable through the doorway 4 and beneath the flange 9. In eifecting these operations it is necessary only for the operator to remove telescopic cross-rod spring pressure device 21, it! from the upwardly extending lever or thrust arms 26, grip lever arms 26 in his hands and press them inwardly, whereby motion will be transmitted to swing the inner ends of arms 2!, 22 downwardly, thus depressing the shaft and roller sufliciently to permit them with the belt to clear the flange 9 and to be inserted or removed at an angle through the space between the front end of the journal and underlying portion of the bottom of the journal box. When in working position the lubricator will also permit jacking up of the journal and application and removal of the bearing and wedges without interference therewith.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. '7 to 11, inclusive, the construction is the same as that of the lubricator shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, with regard to the shaft, roller and conveyor belt, and mode of connection of the supporting arms with the shaft, but the frame rods or bars 25' to which the arms 2 l and 22 are connected at their outer ends are provided with relatively short lever arms 26' which are free from connection with each other at their upper ends. In this form of the invention also the spring loaded cross connection at the upper ends of the lever arms is dispensed with and in place thereof a coiled torsion spring 21' is arranged about each end of the shaft, which spring has oppositely extending end portions engaging the arms 2!, 22 to exert pressure thereon tending to force the rods 25' and the outer ends of the arms downwardly against the side walls of the reservoir and thereby force the innor ends of the arms upwardly to yieldingly hold the roller and conveyor belt in contact with the surface of the journal. The lever arms 26 here operate as stabilizers to balance and assist in maintaining the lubricator in proper position in the journal box and they also operate, like the arms 26, as hand levers which may be grasped. by the operator and manipulated to adjust or collapse the frame to permit of its application to or removal from the journal box. Fig. 8 shows the arms 26' as swung inwardly for this purpose by which the outer ends of the arms 2!, 22 are raised out of contact with the box side walls and the inner ends of said arms 2!, 22 depressed to force the lubricating elements downward against the resistance of the spring 2'! to permit these elements to pass beneath the flange i) and the lubricator slidably inserted or removed through the mouth of the box. When the lubricator is adjusted in this manner for introduction into the box, it will be apparent that upon the arms 26 being released by the operator the reaction of the spring 21 will cause the parts to assume their operating position shown in Fig. 9 in which the lubricator, while free from positive fastening connection with the box, will maintain itself in proper working relationship to the journal.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14 the lubricator structure is generally similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, except as to the provision of a simpler expansion spring spreader acting on the lever arms to This lubricator, in adyieldingly hold the roller and belt pressed toward the journal. As shown, the shaft l1, roller [9", transverse arms 2|, 22 and side rods 25* supporting the belt Ml are or may be connected and mounted in the same manner as the corresponding parts in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, but the lever arms 26* extending upwardly from the forward ends of the rods 25 have their upper ends bent inwardly at an angle to the arms and toward each other to form spring supports 21* spaced a distance apart to allow freedom of motion of the arms 25% with the side rods 25 These supports Zi extend into and provide seats and retainers for the ends of a coiled expansion spring 29 which serves the same function as the spring 29 of the lubricator structure shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. An advantage of the structure shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14 resides in its simplicity and inexpensiveness of construction, and ease of mounting the spring in assembling the parts of the device for use, as well as in removing the spring when occasion requires.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of operation of my improved journal lubricator will be readily understood without a further and extended description, and it will be seen that in addition to affording the manifold advantages before set forth, it provides a lubricator of simple construction which may be applied as a unit to any journal box without using any special fixtures in the box or otherwise specially preparing it for the purposes. It effectively eliminates the use of waste packing as a lubricant distributor and the loss of running time and possibility of hot boxes arising from socalled waste grabs and disasters resulting therefrom. While I have shown practical and efficient embodiments of my invention for carrying the same into practice, I do not desire to be limited to the constructions and arrangements shown, as others falling within the scope of the appended claims may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. Nor

\ do I wish to be limited to the use of my invention in any conventional or standard type of railway car journal box, as the lubricator lends itself to use in connection with bearing boxes and journals of various kinds in general use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a journal lubricator, the combination with a journal box having a lubricant reservoir at the bottom thereof for supplying lubricant to an axle of a journal, a lubricator located in the box comprising a roller, an endless flexible conveyor arranged for travel about the roller and to be pressed thereby in contact with said axle journal for conveying lubricant from the reservoir to the journal, a flexible frame formed of members arranged to engage the sides of the journal box and members connected therewith and supporting the roller for rotation with and movement toward and from the journal, and resilient means acting on the frame to hold the first named members in engagement with the sides of the journal box and to exert pressure on the second named members to yieldingly hold the roller and conveyor pressed toward the journal.

2. In a journal lubricator, the combination with a journal box having a reservoir at the bottom thereof for supplying lubricant to an axle journal, of a lubricator located in the box comprising a roller, an endless flexible conveyor arranged for travel about the roller and to be pressed thereby in contact with said journal to convey lubricant from the reservoir to'the journal, afiexible frame having side members arranged to engage and rock in contact with the side walls of the journal box and arms connectedtherewith and supporting the roller for rotation with the movement toward and from the journal, and resilient means acting on the frame to hold said side members in contact with the walls of the box and to exert pressure on the arms to yieldingly hold the roller and conveyor pressed upward toward the journal with freedom for downward movement relative thereto.

3. In a journal lubricator the combination with a journal box having a reservoir at the bottom thereof for supplying lubricant to an axle jour nal, of a lubricator located in the box comprising a roller, an endless flexible conveyor arranged for travel about the roller and to be pressed thereby in contact with the journal for convey ing lubricant from the reservoir to the journal, a flexible frame formed of a set of longitudinal side members arranged to engage the sides of the journal box and sets of transverse members comprising arms connected therewith and supporting the roller for rotation with and movement toward and from the journal, and resilient means acting on at least one set of arms to hold the first named members in engagement with the sides of the journal box and to exert pressure on the second named members to yieldingly hold the roller and conveyor toward the journal.

4. In a journal lubricator, the combination with a journal box having a reservoir at the bottom thereof for supplying lubricant to an axle journal, of a lubricator located in the box comprising a shaft, a roller carried thereby, and endless flexible conveyor arranged for travel about the roller and to be pressed thereby in contact with the journal to convey lubricant from the reservoir to the journal, a flexible frame having longitudinally extending side members arranged to engage and rock in contact with the side walls of the journal box and transverse members connected therewith and to the shaft to support the roller for rotation with and movement toward and from the journal, and resilient means acting on the frame to hold said side members in contact with the walls of the box and to exert pressure on the transverse members to yieldingly hold the roller and conveyor pressed toward the journal with freedom for downwardmovement relative thereto.

5. In a journal lubricator, the combination with a journal box having a reservoir at the bottom thereof for supplying lubricant to an axle journal, of a lubricator located in the box comprising a roller, and endless flexible conveyor arranged for travel about the roller and to be pressed thereby in contact with the journal for conveying lubricant from the reservoir to the journal, a flexible frame formed of side members arranged to engage the side walls ofthe journalbox and transverse members connected therewith and pivotally coupled to and supporting the roller for rotation with and movement toward and from'thejournal, and resilient means acting on said side members of. the frame to hold the same in engagement with the side walls of the journal box and to exert pressure on the transverse members to yieldingly hold the roller and COD.- veyor pressed upward toward the journalwith freedom for downward movement relative thereto.

6. In a journal lubricator, the combination with a journal box having a reservoir at the bet tom thereof for supplying lubricant to anaxle of a lubricator located in the box comprising a roller, an endless flexible conveyor arranged for travel about the roller and to be pressed thereby in contact with the journal to convey lubricant from the reservoir to the journal, a flexible frame having side members arranged to engage and rock in contact with the side walls of the journal box and transverse arms connected therewith and pivotally coupled to and supporting the roller for rotation with and movement toward and from the journal, and resilient means acting on the arms to hold said side members in contact with the walls of the box and to exert pressure on the arms to yieldingly hold the roller and conveyor' pressed'toward the journal with freedom for downward movement relative thereto.

'7. In a journal lubricator, the combination with a j ournal box having a reservoir at the bottom thereof for supplying lubricant to an axle journal of a lubricator located in the box comprising a roller, a flexible conveyor arranged for travel about the roller and to be pressed thereby in contact with the journal to convey lubricant from the reservoir to the journal, a frame struc tur'e including transverse rocker arms supporting the roller for rotation and for movement in a vertical plane toward and from the journal and longitudinal side rods carrying the arms and arranged to engage the side walls of the box to support the arms and roller therefrom, said rods having lever arms extending upwardly therefrom, and a resilient connection between said lever arms acting thereon to hold the side members in engagement with the sides of the journal box and to transmit pressure therethrough to the rocker arms to hold the roller yieldingly pressed toward the journal.

8. In a journal lubricator, the combination with a journal box having a reservoir at the bottom thereof for supplying lubricant to an axle journal of a lubricator located in the box comprising a roller, an endless flexible conveyor ar ranged for travel about the roller and to be pressed thereby in contact with the journal to convey lubricant from the reservoir to the journal, a flexible frame structure including longitudinal side rods arranged in supporting engagement with the side walls of the box and trans verse rocker arms connected therewith and pivotally coupled to the roller to support the roller for rotation and movement in a vertical plane toward and from the journal, lever arms extending upward from the side rods, and resilientmeans acting on said rocket arms for normally holding the side rods in engagement with the side walls of the journal box and yieldingly pressing the roller toward the journal.

9". In a journal lubricator, the combination With a journal box having a reservoir at the bottom thereof for supplying lubricant to an axle journal of a lubricator located in the box clom-' prising a shaft, a' roller mounted thereon, an endless flexible conveyor arranged for travel H about the roller and to be pressed thereby in contact with the journal to convey lubricant from the reservoir to the journal, a frame structure including transverse rocket arms coupled to the shaft to supportthe roller for rotation and for movement in a vertical plane toward and. from the journal and longitudinal side rods carrying the arms and arranged to engage the side walls of the boxto support the arms and roller there from, lever arms carried by the rods, and a re silient connection between the lever arms acting thereon to hold the side rods in engagement with the sides of the journal box and therethrough on the arms to yieldingly force the roller toward the journal.

10. In a journal lubricator, the combination with a journal box having a reservoir at the bottom thereof to supply lubricant to an axle journal of a lubricator located in the box comprising a shaft, a roller mounted on the shaft, an endless flexible conveyor arranged for travel about the roller and to be pressed thereby in contact with the journal to convey lubricant from the reservoir to the journal, a flexible frame structure including longitudinal side rods arranged in supporting engagement with the side walls of the box and rocker arms connected therewith and pivotally connected with the shaft to support the roller for rotation and movement in a vertical plane toward and from the journal, lever arms carried by the rods, and resilient means acting on the arms to press the roller toward the journal and yieldingly resist movement of the roller away from the journal.

11. In a journal lubricator, the combination with a journal box having a lubricant receiver, and an axle journal disposed in the box of a lubricator located in the box and comprising a supporting roller, an endless lubricant conveyor arranged to travel thereon and to be held thereby in contact with the journal, a flexible, expansible and contractible frame structure formed of relatively movable parts supporting the roller and arranged in supporting engagement with the side walls of the box and to allow movement of the roller toward and from the journal, and resilient means acting on said frame parts to hold the frame expanded for engagement with the side walls of the box and to yieldingly force the roller toward the journal.

12. In a journal lubricator, the combination with a journal box having a lubricant reservoir at its bottom for supplying lubricant to an axle journal in the box, of a lubricator located in the box comprising a shaft, a roller mounted to rotate thereon, a lubricant conveyor belt arranged to travel about the roller and to be ressed in contact with the journal to convey lubricant from the reservoir to the journal, 9, frame comprising longitudinal frame members arranged at opposite sides of the roller and shaft and bearing against the side walls of the box, and supporting arms carried by the frame members and extending transversely of the roller and shaft and fixed at their outer ends to the frame members and coupled at their inner ends to the shaft to permit upward and downward movements thereof and of the shaft and roller toward and from the underside of the journal, and resilient means carried by the frame for pressure on the arms to j yieldingly hold the roller in engagement with the journal.

13. A journal lubricator of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the flexible conveyor is formed of a material having indentations forming pockets to pick up oil from the reservoir.

14. In a journal bearing lubricator, a journal box having a bottom oil containing cellar, a supporting shaft arranged to extend longitudinally in said cellar beneath an axle journal, a roller mounted to revolve on said shaft, a flexible lubricant conveying apron mounted to travel about said roller and to be pressed thereby against the journal to convey lubricant thereto from the cellar, a pair of supporting and motion transmitting arms mounted on each end of the shaft and extending transversely therefrom toward op- .posite sides of the journal box so as to bear at their outer ends against the side walls of the box, the inner end of one of the arms being fixed to the shaft and the inner end of the other arm loosely mounted on the shaft to provide joint connections permitting up and down movements of the roller relative to and with the journal, and resilient means acting on said arms to cause the same to constantly press the roller and apron upwardly against the surface of the journal.

HARLEY T. ROCKWELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 232,743 Mitchell Sept. 28, 1880 748,480 Clifton Dec. 29, 1903 1,552,825 Collins Sept. 8, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 93,560 Germany Aug. 18. 189-7 

